Ferron picked up the sprint victory and Van Aert maintained the lead

The French Valentin Ferron (Total Energy) won the sixth stage of Dauphinédisputed in between River and Gap196 km long, a day of migration where the Belgian Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) he hid the yellow jersey.

Ferron (Vienne, 24 years old) was the fastest in the reduced sprint of the six runners who starred at the break of the day and reached the finish line using the far peloton. For speed, the French cyclist raised his arms ahead of his compatriots Pierre Rolland and Warren Barguil, with a time of 4:22:17.

The leak came again. The peloton allowed more than necessary and the 6 rebels the day before reached the finish line to discuss victory. Among them, the smartest and fastest Valentin Ferron (Vienne, 24 years old), who attacked from afar with force to raise his arms in a time of 4:22:17, at an average speed of 45 km /hour.

The excited French cyclist, who could hardly believe his accomplishment, the second of his team in this Dauphiné after Vuillermoz’s victory, surpassed his compatriots Pierre Rolland, the king of the mountain, and Warren Barguil.

The peloton did not suffer much. Let without stress. The minds of the favorites are set for the weekend, starting at Galibier and Croix de Fer this Saturday. Van Aert battled the yellows, maintaining a lead of 1.03 minutes over Italian Mattia Cattaneo (Quick Step) and 1.06 over Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma).

The platoon left Rives, a town in Isère, pearlless Spanish cycling, Juan Ayuso, was ill and forced to quit the race when he was eighth overall and dreaming of the next mountain stages. A sensitive loss for his team, with options in general with Brandon McNulty.

In the middle of the race, Polish Kwiatkowski, a luxury domestique of Ineos, retired. The trial charges the victims when the main days arrive. This transition period, in the middle of the mountain, without extreme difficulty, but uncomfortable because of the 4 heights of its marking.

Strict advantage but enough

A spirited advance guard began an adventure with Bouchard (AG2R Citroën), Armirail (Groupama), Bagioli (Quick-Step), Lafay (Cofidis), Ferron (TotalEnergies), Barguil (Arkea) and Rolland (B&B Hotels), that is, six French and one Italian.

The flight took off immediately, with a difference of between 4 and 5 minutes, with no reaction from the peloton, who did not see their various interests threatened. The septet overcame Sainte-Eulalie-en-Royans (4th), Grands Goulets (3rd), and the two main difficulties of Col de Rousset and Cabre, both in second place.

The adventure progressed on the road between the Côte d’Azur and the Alps, and the peloton chased with weak spirits. No needs were seen when the difference calmed down within about 3 minutes at 40 km from the finish line. Because of the lead, Van Aert’s Jumbo was driven to pull the peloton, which reduced the difference.

But the arreón, shared by BikeExchange and UAE Emirates, was a threat rather than a clear interest in breaking the breakout, which ensured the finish with 6 riders remained in the forefront. It’s a matter of strategy for success.

After a small slope 6 meters from the finish line, the road rushes down to the end. One minute lead, enough if they don’t waste confidence. Not so, they got to the finish line with a tight lead, but enough was enough.

Ferron knew he shouldn’t catch up with Bagioli, who was faster than him, so he attacked from a distance, which surprised the Italian and inadvertently the other rivals. Thus, with the force and release of a winning órdago, the Frenchman achieved his second victory as a professional.

This Saturday the seventh stage between Saint-Chaffrey and Vaujany, which is 134.8 km, is disputed.